An Aid To Memory

Almost 2 years ago (boy time flies!), I wrote a little bit about Catholic and Orthodox unity. I think these two reflections are still relevant, and linking to them is easier than coming up with anything new! Click on the links below to get the complete texts:

That They May Be One (8-10-04)
Christian unity is essential. Jesus laid it out clearly in his high priestly prayer when he said, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21, RSV)…

How Well Are We Breathing? (7-25-04)
As many of you know, I will be received into the Catholic Church on August 14th, which is (at least in the US) the vigil of the Feast of the Assumption / Dormition of the Blessed Virgin. Western Christians might take some pause at the word “Dormition” used here, because the feast in the Western Church is called the “Assumption.” This highlights something I as a Western Christian have had to face as I journey into the Catholic Church from Anglicanism: the Eastern Churches (Orthodox and Eastern Catholics) matter…

According to a Russian Orthodox bishop, "We (Orthodox and Catholics) are on the same side of the divide." This, according to a recent article. The Russian bishop is speaking of the liberalization of the mainline Protestant churches, with whom Orthodoxy used to actively engage in ecumenical talks. Now, this Orthodox bishop is questioning how much Orthodox Christians have in common with modern-day mainline Protestantism, which evolved rapidly during the last century.

This article is a positive step forward in my opinion, because an Orthodox bishop is publicly recognizing that Catholics and Orthodox have so much in common, echoing the views of the late John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Our current secular backdrop (including the secularization of the mainlines) especially highlights common Catholic and Orthodox morality and theology. Indeed, Catholics and Orthodox should present a unified moral front even if we don’t agree on all the doctrinal details (although we share so much in common). Where traditional Protestants fit in the bishop does not say. I would be interested to see these thoughts expanded upon. I long for the day when East and West are fully united.

Today, Jonathan and I visited an Eastern Catholic Church for the first time. We visited St John Chrysostom (Ruthenian) Byzantine Catholic Church in Columbus, Ohio. The image on the left is from the inside of the church, and the image on the right is of golden-mouthed preacher and doctor of the Church, St. John Chrysostom. I must admit I was a little nervous as I walked into the building. It is the first time in 6 years I have been in an Eastern Church, and the first time ever I have visited one in which I could commune.

The worship was other-worldly and appealed to every one of my senses. The entire Divine Liturgy, minus a few words, was completely sung. The place smelled of incense, and I was surrounded by many beautiful icons of Jesus, the theotokos (Mother of God), and the apostles and saints. We had an opportunity to kiss an icon as we entered and before receiving communion. Fr. Bacha gave an excellent homily, and at the end of the service welcomed those such as myself that were guests. Everybody was extremely friendly, and three people talked to my brother and me, welcoming us and inviting us back.

Having been raised in a western church, and recently converting to the Western Rite of the Catholic Church, I kept an eye out for East/West differences. Here are a few of the major differences:

1. There is no genuflecting, only bowing. This goes back to Eastern customs, where bowing shows deference, whereas traditionally in the West genuflection is the way to defer in respect.

2. Byzantine Catholics cross themselves right-to-left, and do so in the service much more frequently than we Westerners do in the Novus Ordo mass. Additionally, they cross themselves during the Gloria Patri, whereas western custom is to bow.

3. The Nicene creed is closer to the original Eastern version, and it lacks the filioque (and the Son) clause.

4. The communion bread is leavened, and is mingled with wine in a chalice and dropped into the mouth using a little spoon. Custom is to cross your arms (some dangle them down, the point being to not risk dropping the body and blood mixture), arch your back a little, and open your mouths (keeping your tongue inside!) as the priest drops in the body/blood mix.

5. This particular Divine Liturgy (the Eastern Eucharistic liturgy) was sung in English and Church Slavonic.

6. The language referring to the pope differs slightly. The pope is the "ecumenical pontiff, the bishop of Rome." His role as servant of servants is emphasized. Additionally, they pray for the patriarch of Constantinople, who as of now, is not in full communion with the Catholic Church.

Keep in mind that the differences between East and West that I have listed above can be chalked up
to differing customs, traditions, and ways of approaching the same
theological mysteries. Fortunately, the Church of Christ is above any culture, and can transform and find expression in all cultures. I highly recommend my readers visit an Eastern Catholic Church, to appreciate what we mean when we say "we believe in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church."

Left Image: http://www.chrysostomstjohn.org/
Right image: http://www.unf.edu/classes/byzantium/

Here is a favorite Morning Prayer of mine, from the Coptic AGPIA, the Coptic Divine Office.

O Come let us worship
O Come let us ask Christ our God
O Come let us worship
O Come let us ask Christ our King
O Come let us worship
O Come let us implore Christ our Saviour

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, keep us through the intercessions of Saint Mary and all Your saints, and let us enjoy a fresh start. Have mercy upon us according to Your will forever. The night has passed away, we thank You, O Lord, and we ask You to keep us this day without sin and deliver us.

Image from: http://kane-co.com/pictures.htm

Ankara, Turkey - The spiritual leader of the world’s 200 million
Orthodox Christians welcomed Pope Benedict XVI’s pledge to end a schism
between the Catholic and Orthodox churches, calling it a mutual
"obligation to God.

Read further.

Tomorrow (January 18th) happens to be a lot of things: the day I substitute teach second grade (not a big deal), when Maria arrives in South America, and (most importantly!) the beginning of the Octave of Christian Unity, which runs from January 18th-25th. Check out the previous link for some materials that we have put up for this 8 day period seeking Christian unity. We will have prayers, things to do, and Eastern and Western Christian readings designed to promote mutual understanding.

Also in the news today, Catholic Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa of the Syrian Catholic Church was kidnapped in Iraq. Let’s pray for his safety and for tranquility in Iraq for their upcoming election and beyond.

The Image is St. John Chrysostom, taken from www.chrysostom.org

Christian unity is essential. Jesus laid it out clearly in his high priestly prayer when he said, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21, RSV).

In other words, to be orthodox and orthoprax (i.e. correct believing and correct acting) we must have unity. The Church (currently divided between East and West) lacks this reality at the moment. And in an increasingly post-Christian world, it is scandalous. Jesus even says that our unity directly reflects on our message that the Father has sent Jesus. Without this unity, the message is weakened. With over 35,000 denominations, Christians have been an extemely poor witness in this regard.

Catholics since Vatican II have been open to a better relationship with other Christians, especially the Eastern Churches, with which Catholics have the most in common. I offer a few quotes from Bishop of Rome John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical Ut Unum Sint. I think they speak of the importance of ecumenism, the role of the bishop of Rome, and our close relationship with Eastern Christians:

9. Jesus himself, at the hour of his Passion, prayed “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21). This unity, which the Lord has bestowed on his Church and in which he wishes to embrace all people, is not something added on, but stands at the very heart of Christ’s mission. Nor is it some secondary attribute of the community of his disciples. Rather, it belongs to the very essence of this community. God wills the Church, because he wills unity, and unity is an expression of the whole depth of his agape.

50, 54. [Vatican II], for its part, considered the Churches of the East with objectivity and deep affection, stressing their ecclesial nature and the real bonds of communion linking them with the Catholic Church. The Decree on Ecumenism points out: “Through the celebration of the Eucharist of the Lord in each of these Churches, the Church of God is built up and grows in stature”. It adds, as a consequence, that “although these Churches are separated from us, they possess true sacraments, above all — by apostolic succession — the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are still joined to us in a very close relationship”. The Council acknowledged their great liturgical and spiritual tradition…and their own particular way of expressing their teaching… the Church must breathe with her two lungs!

61. In view of all this, the Catholic Church desires nothing less than full communion between East and West.

88, 95, 96. In the beautiful expression of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, my ministry [as pope] is that of “servus servorum Dei.” This designation is the best possible safeguard against the risk of separating power (and in particular the primacy) from ministry….All this however must always be done in communion. When the Catholic Church affirms that the office of the Bishop of Rome corresponds to the will of Christ, she does not separate this office from the mission entrusted to the whole body of Bishops, who are also “vicars and ambassadors of Christ”. The Bishop of Rome is a member of the “College”, and the Bishops are his brothers in the ministry. [Clarifying the primacy of the papacy in light of ecumenism] is an immense task, which we cannot refuse and which I cannot carry out by myself. Could not the real but imperfect communion existing between us persuade Church leaders and their theologians to engage with me in a patient and fraternal dialogue on this subject, a dialogue in which, leaving useless controversies behind, we could listen to one another, keeping before us only the will of Christ for his Church and allowing ourselves to be deeply moved by his plea “that they may all be one … so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn 17:21)?

These quotes are food for thought for us all! Please note that His Holiness John Paul II is not calling for World Council of Churches type ecumenism. He is calling for a unity in truth, not a unity based on watered-down half-truth. Unfortunately, Protestant ecumenism has often meant that any meaningful tradition or practice is thrown out because it may “offend” someone, so we are left with bland, meaningless Christianity. Fortunately, Catholic and Orthodox Christians wanting unity see this as no option at all. Only a Christianity “breathing with both lungs” works. As a note, the icons are SS. Basil and Ambrose, symbolic of East/West dialogue and cooperation.

As many of you know, I will be received into the Catholic Church on August 14th, which is (at least in the US) the vigil of the Feast of the Assumption / Dormition of the Blessed Virgin. Western Christians might take some pause at the word “Dormition” used here, because the feast in the Western Church is called the “Assumption.” This highlights something I as a Western Christian have had to face as I journey into the Catholic Church from Anglicanism: the Eastern Churches (Orthodox and Eastern Catholics) matter!

Before converting to the Catholic Church, I considered Eastern Orthodoxy as an option, and there was really nothing theological getting in the way of my becoming Orthodox. The reasons were more geographical and cultural: the lack of an Orthodox church for miles (I live in a rural area), and the ethnocentrism I encountered at the Orthodox churches that are within a semi-reasonable driving distance. Otherwise, I might have become Orthodox (please keep in mind that the Western Church has cultural issues as well). Either way I have a great respect for and love of the Eastern Churches. Recent papal decrees have emphasized the importance of “breathing with both lungs,” that is without both Eastern and Western expressions of the Christian faith, we as the Church of Christ are only breathing at “half-capacity” so-to-speak, and are only worse-off for it. In Orientale Lumen, John Paul II called Catholics to task when he said, “a conversion is…required of the Latin Church,” … “that she may respect and fully appreciate the dignity of Eastern Christians.” By this he means both Eastern Catholics (those Eastern Churches currently in communion with Rome) and Eastern Orthodox (not in communion with Rome, but from the Catholic Church’s standpoint, legitimate Churches). As I have been reading various forums around the net I am utterly amazed how many Western Catholics know absolutely nothing about our Eastern brothers and sisters, and how, very often, these Churches are denigrated as being second-class. Many Catholics, despite Vatican II and the recent papal decrees of John Paul II, still are very unhelpful in the way they view Eastern Orthodox Christians, and even strangely, Eastern Catholics, with whom they are in full communion (some Eastern Christians abhor the West as well; unfortunately the animosity and ignorance can go both ways). I guess at this point I don’t think we are breathing too well, as many refuse to even allow themselves to be educated about Eastern Christianity. Hopefully as time passes, we can breathe steadier and more deeply as East and West (we pray) move closer to full communion. I have made it a personal goal of mine (and on the webpages I run, Ancient-Future.Net and ChurchYear.Net) to always include the Eastern perspective. This includes, of course, using Eastern and Western terms, and working to clearly explain the Eastern viewpoint, especially when their thought differs from Western conceptions. Please check out these various Eastern Church links, and explore their rich heritage:

Eastern Church Links- Catholic and Eastern Church Relations
Byzantine Catholic Links- Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Resources
Greek Orthodox Church in America
Orthodox Church in America
Mutual Misunderstandings- An excellent site dealing with mutual misunderstandings Catholics and Orthodox have.
A (little) Light from the East- An Eastern Catholic Blog